Three stories caught my attention this week. Two involve ships getting bigger. One involves getting to them.
Royal Caribbean announced their next Oasis class ship will debut in 2028. The unnamed vessel will be the eighth in the class and biggest cruise ship ever built. It will homeport in Miami and carry around 7,000 passengers. That’s roughly the population of North Kingsville spread across 20 decks. The ship will feature new neighborhoods and expanded dining options, because apparently Icon of the Seas wasn’t quite large enough.
Norwegian Cruise Line revealed plans for their Prima Plus class ships. These will be larger versions of the Prima class, with the first launching in 2027. The ships will sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean. Norwegian says they’re responding to demand for newer ships in their most popular market. Translation: people want the newest toys on the most convenient routes.
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale announced a $3 billion expansion plan. The project will add new terminals and increase capacity to handle the cruise industry’s growth. Construction begins next year and runs through 2031. This matters because South Florida ports are already crowded. More space means shorter lines and less chaos on embarkation day.
The theme here is growth. Cruise lines keep building bigger ships because people keep booking them. Ports scramble to keep up with the increased capacity. For travelers, this means more choices and potentially better deals as supply increases. It also means planning further ahead as the newest ships book up quickly. If you want help sorting this out, that is literally what we do.
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